Chinese tennis player Qinwen Zheng announced that she has rehired her former coach Pere Riba after he split with Coco Gauff.
The World No.15 took to Instagram and said that she was going ‘back to original’ with whom she trained for more than two years. Riba began training her in 2021 and parted ways after the 2023 French Open. Riba then joined American tennis player Coco Gauff and led her to her first WTA 500 title, first WTA Masters title, and most importantly her first Grand Slam title at the US Open.
She again partnered with Riba after Gauff parted ways in November 2023. She aims to break into the top 10 of the WTA rankings which remained unfulfilled in this season. Riba has helped her break into the top 30 and won the WTA’s Newcomer of the Year award in 2022.
After her first stint with Riba, she hired Wim Fisette from Belgium which ended very soon after Fisette left her, and again opted to work with Naomi Osaka as she eyes to make her comeback in 2024. Fisette
After 21-year-old Zheng paired with Riba, tennis fans recalled the incident when she accused Fisette of immorally leaving her for Osaka in September 2023. Fisette had earlier coached Osaka from 2020-2022.
So funny how she complained about Wim Fisette going back to Naomi Osaka when she did pretty much the same to Gauff
Another fan quoted:
The Qinwen/Naomi/Coco/Riba/Fisette relationship pentagon is so funny.
The Qinwen/Naomi/Coco/Riba/Fissette relationship pentagon is so funny https://t.co/eJR2wAStI2
— moonball enthusiast (@ninjaga20) December 3, 2023
Wow, after being tossed aside one time like yesterday's diper.
— Tld (@tld22914) December 3, 2023
So essentially Qinwen did exactly what he accused Naomi of doing. I don’t wanna hear her mouth anymore about feeling betrayed
— Nick Lincoln (@NickLin1777) December 3, 2023
Nick Kyrgios turns coach to Naomi Osaka ahead of her comeback
Nick Kyrgios was seen sharing some tips with Naomi Osaka in a video of her training session.
Naomi Osaka last played at the Pan Pacific Open in September 2022. She announced her pregnancy later and kept herself off the court in the entire season of 2023. She gave birth to her daughter ‘Shai’ in July and is now preparing for her comeback in the Brisbane International tournament early next year.
She has been sharing videos of her training on social media and in one such video Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios was seen training with her. Kyrgios has also been out of action for the entire season due to injury.
The video was shared by Osaka’s talent agency Evolve, which also signed Kyrgios in 2022. Kyrgios can be seen in a coaching role to Osaka and providing his valuable tips.
